So, back about 1994, I started working on this vampire novella (I know, right?). I worked on it for several years off and on. One day I just stopped and hadn't touched it until about 2007(?) when I decided to rework the entire thing. I started with this Prologue which I found today and had completely forgotten about. It's really amateur and silly, but here it is for your enjoyment:
Prologue
It's one of those parties that starts with one person inviting several friends then telling them to feel free to invite their friends. Before you know it the word hits the streets in the form of casual happy hour chats, emails and text messages. What ensues is an explosion of friends, colleagues and strangers all at the mercy of a host/hostess that may have bitten off more than he/she could chew. I stand in the corner alone next to a bar and huddle against my glass of chardonnay. I am a friend of a friend.
I am not much for big social gatherings but here I am in a room filled with about 200 and counting Columbia area socialites, all who are dancing, eating, drinking and talking. None of which anyone is doing with me. The party is not what I expected at all. There are a lot of people in what look like Victorian (?) period costumes and I slowly begin to wonder if Julian has drug me to another one of those theater fundraisers he goes to all the time. Don't get me wrong, I am a supporter of the arts, being an artist myself, I just don't have the money or the time to support such things when I can barely support myself.
Two women stop in front of me, neither in costume, both wearing different patterns of the same bubble dress. Both women look like they walked out of a magazine. One has straight platinum blond hair with striking blue eyes that stand out against her pale complexion. The other has curly dark brown hair and gorgeous caramel skin. Her copper eyes flicker in the low lighting giving off an ethereal vibe.
The pale one shakes her head as she takes a few steps back towards me, pinning me between the wall and the bar. "I didn't know this was a costume party! Why didn't you tell me?" she whines.
The celestial goddess leans in toward her, "How was I supposed to know? It's not like Tony told me anything."
Thanks to Blondie's perfume that she apparently bathed in, I sneeze which warrants two sets of eyes to turn on me. I stand there as they scan me. The blond sniffs in my general direction and with a defiant "Hmph" from the goddess, they walk away.
"Hey, I was standing here before you were, Blondie, so can the attitude, " I yell over the crowd. Great, I'm here for not even twenty minutes and already I've made enemies. I step from the wall and search the crowd for my own link to this party, Julian. I spot him in no time standing in the center of the madness talking with a man in an elaborate waistcoat. Julian sticks out like a neon sign in contrast to the man and those around them in his bright blue fitted sweater and boot cut jeans. His outfit shows off that he has been busy at the gym again, not that I'm complaining nor that I have a right to notice.
I excuse my way through the crowd to the edge of the dance floor where he stands and tug at his sleeve. "Hey," I shout over the music.
At a whopping 6' 3" to my 5' 7", Julian has to lean down slightly to speak to me, "Hey! There you are," he smiles, " Took you forever to get that drink."
I try to give him my best agitated-because-you-left-me-behind look, "How late do you want to stay?"
Two sparkling sapphires for eyes peak out between pieces of asymmetrically cut jet black hair, "Oh, come on Chris. Don't be like that already. We just got here," he pleads.
I step back and take into account Julian's pitiful pout. I have been friends with him way too long to know that when he calls me Chris instead of Christine he is attempting to sucker me. It works. I sigh, "No, it's not that. I was just seeing if you were feeling this party or not." His expression lightens, he knows he won. "You know the lack of costumes and all?"
He gives me one of his charming smiles, "Yeah, I didn't know if you would come if you knew it was a costume party."
I feel my left eyebrow raise up in question, "You KNEW this was a costume party?"
Julian turns his back to the man beside him who is already engaged in another conversation, "Not eactly. Nathaniel can be a little...eccentric. You never know what he will do," he explains, "I had an idea but didn't know for sure." I growl and rub my forehead in response. Realizing I am slightly agitated he offers, "I'm sorry, Chris."
I sigh and look up at him. What can I say? I am a sucker for those baby blues. "Okay, okay. You're forgiven but I am going to need some more wine for this," I say. Julian nods and heads off toward the bar. I stand there nervously amongst the people around me in costume. I watch a couple whirl by on the dance floor and am amazed to catch on to the fact that classical music is actually being played.
"Looks like fun, huh?" says someone to my left, startling me out of thought. I turn to look at the man addressing me and recognize him as the man in the elaborate waistcoat that Julian was talking to previously. He smiles, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
I sort of stumble on myself, "No, sorry. You just caught me lost in thought," he looks at me to explain, "I was listening to the music and just wondering why the classical music choice."
The man shrugs, "I thought it would go well with the theme."
I feel my face flush. "You must be Nathaniel," I stammer. The man smiles in response and I feel like I need to change the subject to divert my awkwardness, "Is this the 'Emperor Waltz' by Johann Strauss?"
Nathaniel smiles, "You have a good ear. I am surprised you know it." Doesn't everybody?
"Well, my grandmother taught me to waltz to this song when I was younger," I explain and down the rest of my wine. Why I am so nervous?
"Really?" Nathaniel chuckles. Taking the glass from my hand, he places it on a tray that a passing waiter carries. "Show me," he challenges while taking my hand and gesturing to the dance floor. Never one to back down from a challenge, I let him lead me onto the floor.
*****
Two wine glasses in hand, Julian excuses his way through the crowd only to find that Christine isn't where he left her. In fact, Nathaniel isn't either. Slightly panicked, he stands there and scans the dance floor. After a moment he spots Christine and Nathaniel waltzing by him. Christine acknowledges him with a smile and breaks away from her partner.
"You've returned with my wine!," Christine exclaims, "I knew you were good for something." She gives him a punch in the arm and winks. Julian isn't paying attention to her. He is busy focusing his gaze on Nathaniel who stands behind her looking her over like a piece of meat. Nathaniel looks up at him and gives him a sly smile, causing him to drop his drink. "Julian!" Christine yells breaking the interaction.
Julian looks down to see Christine trying to pick up pieces of glass from the floor. If she cuts herself...he thinks. "Chris," he kneels down to her and grabs her by the arm, "Could you go let one of the waiters know that there was a spill?"
"Sure thing. Are you okay?" she asks.
"Yeah," he stammers, "I think I am actually ready to go. Just tell one of the waiters about this and I will be right behind you."
He can feel Christine looking at him for some kind of inclination as to why he has changed his mind. He forces a nervous smile and concern washes away from her face, "Whatever you say. You're my taxi," she giggles.
They stand up and he watches her walk into the crowd. He senses Nathaniel standing right behind him, "Julian, who's your friend?"
Julian braces himself, "Why do you want to know?"
Nathaniel walks around to face him and Julian can see a flicker in his emerald eyes, "Because she excites me."
Julian glares down at him, "You can't have her."
Nathaniel begins to laugh, "Oh, I think I can."
(c) 2007, Crystal Gleim
